Hello, again.

Here's the second half of the Trip to Snow.

Don't own Naruto or Pokemon.

Shadows in My Mind

XXKushina and CoXX

"Reports from the front say we're nearly there, both the castle and the resistance hideout." Haku told Kushina, who had just finished up preparing herself for the upcoming conflict.

"Had a feeling. Have them focus on the hideout, but some should go into the castle and if anything can be done about sneaking any prisoners out." Kushina told him, now clad in Konoha combat attire with her hair in a ponytail, "The less inconspicuous, the better. Also, the faster we make contact with Team Were'mon, the better, so someone should try and determine their current location as well."

Haku nodded, understanding the reason. It won't help things if either side was not in place in time.

Kushina suddenly had a quick mischievous grin. "Not to mention, the faster you can get back to Sakura."

Haku flushed and stammered at that, not expecting his developing crush being noticed (at least, not just yet).

Her more petite appearance wasn't an issue in his eyes, at least.

Kushina chuckled as Haku 'walked' (otherwise known as speed-walking) away, only to turn cold as Kakashi walked towards with his Pokemon, who was a Luxio by then. "Hatake."

Kakashi winced, and decided to stick with something that had honestly made him curious. "I know this isn't the best time, but did something happen? Your body seems fuller, like it's finally catching up to your chest or something."

Kushina actually took the question seriously, finding that he was right. Underneath her current attire, her curves did feel different. Accentuated, yet not, perhaps? Probably from being around Nikorra and Co. for so long.

"Meh." Kushina eventually said, shrugging, "Not like you'll be seeing anything underneath, anyways."

Kakashi tensed and back away, knowing the unspoken line from history.

This ultimately left her alone to her thoughts, which drifted over to her daughter and her history.

While everything after they reunited was an 'interesting experience,' the time beforehand, however, still chaffed her mood.

Just how could people, let alone her old friends, be so stupid?!

Naruto should've had at least some form of support more than an old man past his prime, an academy teacher that was on his way to properly caring, and a father/daughter food seller pair!

Sure, both Tsunade and herself (especially herself) should have done more as well, but they were not around Naruto!

A hand gently squeezed her shoulder. "You're thinking about the past, aren't you?"

Kushina didn't look at the animalistic woman who had spoken. "He should've had more than he did, Tsume."

Tsume looked down in guilt. "All of us Clan Heads know that, but we had quite a load on each on our own plates. Least of which being that alongside a power struggle, tensions are still on the high side with both Iwa and Kumo. Labeling him a coincidental orphan was the best chance any of us could find for him without making things worse."

"I know, but..." Kushina sighed, and rubbed her forehead, not reacting as Tsume hugged her old friend.

"I know. It doesn't stop the guilt from being there. All any of us can do now is just be there for Nikorra from now on. Though," Tsume raised an eyebrow in mock scolding, "I'm still waiting for my turn with Nikorra."

Kushina snorted in laughter, definitely feeling better as the image slipped into her mind. "Yeah, only to find yourself losing, just like you did to me that one time."

Tsume growled in playful challenge as an wolf with an eye-patch walked over. "We've broken through to the hideout, and the castle is almost reached. As for the above team, it seems that they have yet to reach land."

That steeled the two women. Back to work.

XXTeam Were'monXX

"You guys thinking what I'm thinking?"

"If you are thinking about how Pokeballs apparently make people lazy and the Pokemon likely to only fight other Pokemon without being broken, then yes, I daresay we are all in agreement."

While Sai was the one who answered, Nikorra was referring to the fact that outside of the girl's Pokemon, not a single one of them had attacked any of them except for Kurotora, Kurenai's Gengar and Anko's Croagunk (who had been respectively named Kage and Dokuso while the rookies weren't around).

It was honestly kind of sad for the Konoha ninja, and for the enemy girl and her 'Mon as well (despite knowing that they and the Konoha team were supposed to be enemies).

Said girl sighed. "Any chance me and mine can switch sides? This is...just..."

Hinata developed an idea, and after running it by her team, promptly knocked the 'ordering' shinobi out cold, leaving their 'Mon confused long enough for Nikorra and Sayuki to break the balls, setting the Pokemon free.

"Hopefully Granny gets the go ahead for replacing these things." Nikorra glanced at Fubuki, "What about you? We have to get 'physical?'"

Kurenai pinched her nose in silent exasperation as Sayuki and Hinata giggled, Fubuki taking a while before she got the hint and blushed, backing up and waving her hands in embarrassment. "N-n-no!N-no need for anything!"

It didn't help the girl when an image popped up in her head, of her in a rather compromising position on Nikorra's lap, with Hinata and Sayuki roaming her body in front of an 'interested' Koyuki.

When it changed to Koyuki joining in as Hinata and Sayuki watched instead, Fubuki fainted.

When she woke up, Fubuki found herself gagged, hands tied behind her back, and ropes Seriously? My breasts and...moan...

"Awake, already? Don't worry, outside of the ropes and gag, we didn't do anything to you and your Pokemon. They had nice things to say about you, unlike your 'teammates.'" Hinata peeped into view, getting her attention directed at a floating white creature with a red bow around its center, a bird-like creature with wings made out of clouds, and a female copy of Kurotora that was making Kurotora blush, all near Koyuki, Kushina, Kurenai, and Zabuza. "Their 'Mon are already on their way back to Konoha for now."

Fubuki felt the gag float off as Nikorra joined Hinata with a serious expression. "Hinata had gone through your head, and something that caught our interest. Something about believing your parents had been crossed by the royal family?"

Fubuki immediately growled in anger. "If you read my mind, then there's nothing to discuss, bitch!"

"Not even the fact that your immediate team boss was the one responsible?" Hinata raised an eyebrow.

That made Fubuki blink.

"That's where he looked familiar from, by the way." Hinata said, "He was the one who did it, if the fiery shadows showed the truth. And judging by what was found in his head, they did. Dotou didn't want them to get in the way of his coup."

Fubuki started struggling, trying to come to terms with this while trying to deny it.

Both Were'mon shook their heads, understanding Fubuki's position but not happy about it all. Working for your parents' killer isn't something someone just accepts, especially with how long Fubuki was stuck doing so.

Giving her a soft smile, Nikorra said as she gently cupped Fubuki's cheek, "Don't worry about it right now. You're not the only one who's been manipulated by someone in history. But you have Pokemon who show genuine care about you, so I suggest you do what's right by them at least."

As the pair left Fubuki alone, Fubuki was left alone to her tears as memories popped up in her mind. Mom...Dad...

Dokuso is a rough guesstimate for 'Toxin,' so you know. And as for the girl being the only one whose reacting to the whole mess out of the Snow group, she was the only one who knew how to defy the 'team leader.' That, and she wasn't stupid enough to not realize that cooperation was a better idea than simply giving orders.

The fight is a bit of a copout, but let's be real. Pokemon basically need to be completely broken before they attack humans. Ninja don't have that problem.

As for the last part with Fubuki, it's ultimately what I could figure out on how to get her to switch sides. She'll still be a relatively minor character, so her and her Pokemon won't have a particularly big part in the arc.

And in regards to any omake...sorry, but I have absolutely no idea what to do for it this time. Even with everything in and out of reality, I got nothing. Definitely gonna have to get on the ball with that next time.

That's all for now. Until next time, please R&R.